Live at 9 with Matt Scalici: Kings (and Queens) of Spring Edition

Over the last few years, the University of Alabama has enjoyed a surge of success in its spring sports programs that is perhaps unrivaled elsewhere in the country. Since the spring of 2012, Alabama has seen its softball, men's golf and women's golf programs each take home an NCAA Championship and all three programs are in strong shape to contend for the title again this year.

Meanwhile, Alabama's baseball program heads into this week's SEC Tournament in Hoover following a season with plenty of struggles but also plenty of reasons for optimism.

The state of Alabama is notorious for being a year-round football state and while the state's passion for the pigskin isn't likely to temper any time soon, the UA athletic department is giving its fans plenty of other reasons to cheer during the offseason.

On the other end of the state, the Auburn Tigers saw their baseball and softball seasons come to an end over the weekend, but it's clear that Auburn isn't far off from enjoying the same kind of spring success the Crimson Tide have been enjoying in recent years.

In his first season at the helm, Sunny Golloway made it clear that his standard for success is taking the Tigers to the College World Series. While it may take a few years to build his roster to that level, Golloway has at least shown Tiger fans he won't be settling for anything less than a trip to Omaha, a trip Auburn hasn't made since 1997.

Auburn's softball team enjoyed more success in its first season under new head coach Clint Myers, making the postseason but falling this weekend in their regional. Despite the early exit from the postseason, Auburn's softball team thrilled fans all season and began the process of building a fanbase for the long-struggling program.

Auburn still has plenty of catching up to do when it comes to spring sports but there's plenty of hope that within the next few years, the Tigers and Crimson Tide will be as competitive in the spring as they have become in the fall.